My name is Inigo Jones — prepare for rain
Summary
This episode explores the history of Inigo Jones, a mid-20th-century Queensland weather forecaster who used planetary cycles and sunspots to predict droughts for farmers. Host Matt Bevan and producer Jess O’Callaghan trace the origins of his methods to his mentor, the eccentric meteorologist Clement Ragge, and discuss the cultural context of long-range forecasting in Australia. The story follows the tradition through Jones’s successor, Lennox Walker, who maintained the practice for decades, serving clients ranging from major construction projects to brides seeking wedding day forecasts.
Topics discussed
Intro: Politics Now and If You're Listening
Introduction to Inigo Jones and his name
Inigo Jones's background and move to Brisbane
Apprenticeship under Clement Wragge
Clement Wragge's rivalry with Charles Todd
Naming tropical cyclones after enemies
The origin of planetary weather cycles
How the five-cycle prediction method works
The 1923 drought prediction success
Federal inquiry and Jones's death
Lennox Walker and ABC radio interviews
Walker's business and TV appearance style
Clients: from brides to major infrastructure
Walker's explanation of planetary forecasting
Why farmers relied on these predictions
Closing remarks
Teaser: The US Bond Market
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